Turkey and Pakistan Announce Troop Deployment to Saudi Arabia... Counterattack Against Houthi Strikes on Holy Sites

Sunni Alliance Strikes Back Against Houthis
Fierce Battles for Control of the Red Sea

On the 5th (local time) in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, delegations from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan gathered for an emergency security meeting, followed by a commemorative photo. During the meeting, Turkey and Pakistan declared their intention to send troops to Saudi Arabia to prevent attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Defense, X account.

Turkey and Pakistan, both Sunni Muslim countries, are set to deploy troops in support of Saudi Arabia. As Sunni nations step up their assistance, the Yemeni government forces also announced that they have driven out the Shia Houthi rebels from Mokha, a strategic Red Sea city. With the Sunni countries now launching a full-scale counteroffensive, clashes between Islamic sects over the Red Sea route—which serves as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz—are expected to intensify.

According to Arab News, a Saudi media outlet, an emergency security meeting among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan took place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on the 5th (local time). After the meeting, the delegations of the three countries issued a joint statement declaring, “We firmly reject any attack that threatens the security and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia,” and added, “We will immediately begin the practical implementation of our collective defense commitment, provide the agreed military forces and capabilities, and take the necessary steps to ensure their swift deployment to Saudi Arabia.” However, details such as the size of the forces and the timing of deployment were not disclosed.

Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Defense who presided over the meeting, stated on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after the meeting, “We reaffirmed solidarity with Islamic nations against aggressions targeting Saudi Arabia and the holy sites,” and emphasized, “Through the defense agreement, we will activate military deterrence against the invading forces and those supporting them.” The decision by Sunni countries to send troops is being analyzed as a response to recent Houthi attacks—backed by Iran—on the Red Sea, as well as on the Saudi capital Riyadh and holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Previously, on August 7, the three countries had signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca.

The Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi military, also announced that they have recaptured Mokha, a key Red Sea stronghold previously held by the Houthi rebels. In a statement the previous day, the Yemeni government reported, “We have restored control over Mokha and other key Red Sea areas and have virtually regained command of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea,” adding, “We will continue our operations until the entire country is liberated from the rebels.”

Military clashes between the Sunni states and the Houthi rebels are expected to become even fiercer going forward. Al Jazeera reported, “Saudi Arabia and neighboring Sunni countries are determined to drive the Houthi rebels out of the Red Sea coast to secure safe alternative routes for oil transport. However, if they advance deep into the mountainous regions of northwestern Yemen—the main stronghold of the Houthis—this could greatly provoke Iran, so negotiations may resume after securing control over the Red Sea.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.